Coweta Science Update

We can't remove the uncertainty from this school year, but we can help you support your students no matter what happens. Join us virtually to learn new tools and strategies to engage your students in three-dimensional science in or out of the classroom. The December 5 (9am-1:45pm) sessions will focus on Connecting Science and Literacy. It will include strategies and resources to engage students in literacy through the science practices including data analysis, constructing arguments, explanations, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Two strands of sessions (15-45 min) will be fast-paced and engaging and will offer ideas and resources for elementary, secondary, and K-12. The full schedule will be available soon, and links to all sessions will be available on the GSTA site for GSTA members who have registered for the event. Registration is free for GSTA members. Non-members can pay $15 to access the resources for the live sessions, but will be unable to access the post-conference resources. Need to join? Click here.

The annual GSTA Awards and Grants recognize excellence and innovation in Georgia science education and serves to raise awareness and exposure of the outstanding work being done in our state.

All entries must be received by 11:59PM EST on January 20, 2021, via online submission.

A distinguished panel of professional science educators will review applications and select the winners. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be current GSTA members and all work must be current and cumulative, as applicable.

GSTA Awards and Grants recipients will be honored during a virtual awards banquet in February 2021.

The GSTA Awards and Recognition Program is supported by member donations, the Georgia Science Teachers Education Foundation, and generous sponsors. GSTA Awards and Grants help support the science educators and their science educational programs, professional development and proactive efforts in the science education field.

For more information contact Dr. Sally Creel, the GSTA Awards and Foundation Chair or Alana Davis, the GSTA Awards Co-Chair.

Click on an award below to learn more and apply.

• GSTA Teacher of the Year
• GSTA Teacher of Promise
  
• Georgia Science Administrator of the Year
• GSTA Mini-Grants
  
• ScienceQuest Teacher Scholarship
  
• GSTEF Conference Grant
  
• Science Adventure Student Scholarship

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching. The Awards were established by Congress in 1983. The President may recognize up to 108 exemplary teachers each year.

Awards are given to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teachers from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, or the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands).

The award recognizes those teachers have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas. Since the program's inception, more than 5,000 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.

Awardees reflect the expertise and dedication of the Nation's teaching corps, and they demonstrate the positive impact of excellent teachers on student achievement. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

In 2017, Martha Milam, AP Chemistry teacher at East Coweta High School won! Martha has offered to help anyone interested in applying. This year's award goes to teachers in grades 7-12. Nominate your colleagues today!

The next GSTA State Conference will be held virtually! With the uncertainties of Covid and potential school budget cuts, we felt an online conference would best meet the needs of our membership. The theme for the conference is "Building Connections". The conference will be held in the evening during the week of February 1-February 4, 2021 with a full day of events on Saturday, February 6. Some samples of the types of sessions you can expect are below.

Saturday Short Course: Creating Your Own Storylines (6-12) - Illinois Science Teachers Association Storyline Working Group

The Illinois Science Teachers Association is known for their biology storyline which has been shared nationally: https://www.ilscience.org/Storyline. They have formed a Storyline Working Group to share their planning strategies with teachers. They will offer a keynote session at the conference and will present a Saturday short course on how to develop storyline lessons. Teachers are encouraged to attend as grade level teams. Storyline lessons are lessons that use phenomena to coherently engage students in content, crosscutting concepts, and the science and engineering practices.This session will be geared towards 6-12 science teachers.

Saturday Short Course: Misconceptions & Formative Assessments (K-12) Page Keeley

Join Page Keeley, author of the Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Formative Assessment Probes, Science Formative Assessment Strategies, and Teaching Conceptual Understanding as she provides insight to student misconceptions and how formative assessment strategies can enhance student learning. This session will be geared towards earth, life, and physical science teachers of grades K-12.

We want everyone to be able to understand and work with the data our agency collects on the ocean, atmosphere, and beyond. But we know that, when it comes to using a new online data portal, sometimes the first few clicks are the hardest.

These "tiny tutorials" are designed to break the ice and get you started. These simple animations walk you through our data visualizations step by step.

From there, each data portal offers many variables and dimensions to explore. So roll up your sleeves, fire up your browser or phone, and start exploring the ocean and atmosphere.

Explore tiny tutorials on the following data tools:

Aurora forecast

Did you know that outer space has weather too? Not rain or snow but winds and magnetic waves that move through space! NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has the latest forecasts and outlooks. Learn how to view the forecast for the aurora in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

Climate at a Glance: Historical climate data

Climate at a Glance, from the National Centers for Environmental Information, shows temperature and precipitation at local, regional, national, and international scales. Find out how to change your parameters to show monthly, seasonal, or multi-year averages.

CrowdMag: Magnetic field citizen science

CrowdMag is a citizen science project that uses your mobile phone. Created by the National Centers for Environmental Information, the CrowdMag app uses your phone's internal magnetometer to record magnetic fields as you move around outside. Explore the data you collect and see if you can match up magnetic anomalies with objects in your environment.

Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®): Online mapping for environmental responders

The Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®) is an online mapping tool from the Office of Response and Restoration, which integrates data, like habitats, weather, and currents, into one location for experts responding to environmental disasters like hurricanes or oil spills.

Fire weather graphical forecast

Did you know that the National Weather Service tracks fire weather around the country? With this interactive graphical forecast, monitor fire weather outlooks and click on individual locations to learn more.

Historical hurricane tracks

With historical hurricane tracks from NOAA Digital Coast, you can look for trends in where hurricanes occur or pull up the facts on a single storm.

If you want even more data resources from NOAA, check out the rest of our data resources for educators, which highlight ocean and atmospheric data sources that are easy to use and appropriate for classrooms, informal learning environments, and anyone who is interested in learning more.

This four-month program of weekly garden-themed lessons and activities was created for teachers instructing via distance learning and for parents teaching at home. Lessons are grouped around a monthly theme, featuring three hands-on activities for kids each week with supplemental suggested reading, videos, and more. While aimed at learners in grades 3–5, the activities can easily be adapted for younger or older audiences. You can sign up at any time to see materials from the past weeks or months. Month 1 featured Pollinators; Month 2 focuses on Plant Parts.

K–8 educators can introduce a new generation of students to Smokey Bear and his message of wildfire prevention with this website from USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Ad Council. Classroom materials for grades K–2 include the Smokey Bear Activity Book and the video A Day in the Forest With Smokey Bear. The Smokey Patrol Book (for upper-elementary level) explores how to prevent wildfires and conserve the forest. Resources for the middle level (grades 6–8) focus on developing students’ skills as Smokey’s Wildfire Prevention Detectives. In these activities, students learn to analyze data to determine a fire’s point of origin; interpret evidence to determine if a fire was caused by arson or accident; understand the science of prescribed fire; and create and share a wildfire prevention message.

(9-12) Jim Allison: Breakthrough is a documentary about scientist and Nobel Laureate Jim Allison’s decades-long journey to find a cure for cancer. The film follows Allison as he navigates the challenging journey of science research from breakthrough discovery to rollout and celebrates the power of perseverance. An accompanying Educators Toolkit can help educators address the movie’s content and themes in the science classroom. The guide supports the Next Generation Science Standards and includes lessons, discussion questions, and lab activities exploring topics such as how cancer works, the immune system and cell communication, and what’s involved in getting a breakthrough discovery to patients. The guide also includes an activity for students to learn about the careers featured in the film and in cancer science.

Help keep Georgia clean and green with GPB's upcoming live exploration: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! GPB Education will be live streaming online and on TV on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 10 AM ET. This live virtual field trip will offer students insight into the recycling process as they explore two types of recycling centers and see how one of the world's largest carpet manufacturers repurposes plastic bottles. Students will also learn how they can reduce, reuse, and properly recycle in order to protect the environment and reduce pollution.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO WATCH FOR FREE

This event includes live interactive elements, such as polls and experts who are available to answer students' questions. Use #RecycleLive to participate in the conversation.

Live Exploration: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is aligned to Georgia standards and targets an audience in 3rd-8th grades. The program will be available on demand after December 8th with supplemental classroom resources for grades K-12. The exploration will be live streamed on gpb.org/recycle and will be televised on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

The Fish Art Contest was inspired in 1997 by a 5th grader’s homework assignment and has grown into an international competition introducing young people to the wonders of fish, the joy of fishing and the importance of aquatic conservation. The Fish Art Contest uses art, science and creative writing to foster connections to the outdoors and inspire the next generation of stewards.

The Fish Art Contest is open to all youth in grades K-12 (Ages 5-18). To compete Participants will submit and entry consisting of a completed entry form, an original illustration of a fish from the Official Fish List and a one-page creative writing submission (required for grades 4-12). The 2021 contest deadline is March 31st, 2021.

1. With an adult, review the Rules & Guidelines for the 2021 Contest

2. Select any species from the Official Fish List.

• Some species are eligible for special awards! Learn more about the 2021 Specialty Awards

3. Utilize the Fish On! Lesson Plan, books, and reputable online resources to research your fish species. You may choose to print out the Guided Research Form to keep track of your findings.

4. Create your State-Fish Art Entry consisting of two parts:

Part A
An original HORIZONTAL illustration either 8.5″ x 11″ or 9″ x 12″ in size featuring a species from the Official Fish List.

Part B
A personally written essay (one side of one page) relating to the habitat conservation needs of your chosen fish species. Essays will be judged and awarded, but are not required, for contestants in Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade or from countries other than the USA.

5. Complete a contest Entry Form. Be sure to choose the Entry Form for your state, if applicable.

6. Submit your Entry.

• Option 1 (Preferred): Mail your entry to the address listed at the top of your Entry Form before March 31st, 2021.
• Option 2: Email scanned copies or photos of your entry to FishArt@WildlifeForever.org. **All International entries should submitted through e-mail

Winners will be announced at the beginning of May, 2021.

Prizes will be sent by mail after winners are announced.

The Museum of Science in Boston offers a wide array of virtual events that you and your class can take advantage of whether you're meeting in person or virtually. Events like Ask a Scientist: Lightning or Virtual Planetarium visits are available. Check out their schedule at this website. You can also find upcoming live streams and recordings of previous streams on their YouTube channel.

GaDOE has launched a new innovative platform to provide the opportunity for science teachers and GaDOE staff to collaborate, connect and share thoughts and resources as well as encouragement for the 2020-2021 school year! The instructions below will help guide you in the creation of your account and navigating to the virtual professional learning communities that you are interested in.

Step 1: To get started, visit the GaDOE community website via this link, select "Create an Account" and follow the prompts for setting up a new account on the platform.

Step 2: Once you have completed your account you will have to wait briefly for activation/approval. Once approved, you are ready to join a group! Navigate to the "Groups" section. For science teachers and leader, there are several groups available to join: Select and join the groups you are most interested in.

Below are the codes for the Coweta Science Google Classrooms. Be sure to join for the latest info and update. Google Classroom will be the primary manner I communicate with teachers in Coweta County.

Help me to help you! Let me know who you are, where and what you teach. I'll share the directory with everyone so you can form your own learning communities. Just click on this link. Easy-peasy!

Looking for help in teaching online (or in person)? Want to master Google Classroom? Want to know how to make a Bitmoji interactive page like all of your friends? Look no further than the CCSS Professional Learning Website. Its your one stop shop for professional learning!

Please contact Dr. Donald White with any questions or comments.

Email: donald.white@cowetaschools.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/cowetaschools.net/coweta-science/home
Location: 167 Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA 30263
Phone: 770-254-2800
Twitter: @dwhitesciguy